Resource Format: Reports and Research

As the cost of leasing commercial space soars in many U.S. cities, a new report from ILSR examines what's behind the skyrocketing rents and explores six broad policy strategies that elected officials and community leaders are proposing to keep commercial space appropriate, accessible, and affordable for independent businesses.

Amazon has quietly positioned itself at the center of a growing share of our daily activities and transactions, extending its tentacles across our economy, and with it, our lives. In this report, ILSR pulls back the curtain on the company, and find that it's at the center of increasing inequality and diminishing opportunity.

Vision Smoketown is meant to evoke conversations with residents, policy makers, investors, business leaders and others about how changes in Louisville will impact the Smoketown neighborhood in the next 10, 20 or 30 years. More importantly, Vision Smoketown provides an opportunity for existing residents to have a positive influence in shaping the future of their neighborhood. This report focuses on Smoketown, a historically Black community in Louisville, KY, but may be useful to other communities looking to have greater influence in shaping the future of their neighborhood.

This report's goal is to arm progressive local elected leaders and advocates with a range of effective policies that, if adopted, would make a significant difference in getting on that high road. They will be able to use better democratic organization to add value, reduce waste, and capture and share locally the great benefits of doing both.